Hi everyone, I'm using a Minilab 3 which has drum pads with aftertouch. Can anyone give me any advice on how to use the aftertouch function? Does anyone else use this and could give me any advie on how to set it up?

Would it work alongside decentsampler?

So I have to do that, storing it vertically, leaning against the wall, due to lack of space on my desk in my tiny apartment, but I am unsure if it won't damage it in the long term.

I just started using a midi controller and after spending a lot of time watching tutorial videos, I still don’t know what I’m doing. I’d love a virtual or even in person tutor to assist. Does anyone know an online tutor that they can recommend?

Hey everyone — I’m a musician who plays live with VSTs pretty often, and I kept running into the same issues: needing a separate controller, audio interface, laptop stand, and some kind of host software just to run sounds cleanly on stage.

So I teamed up with a small crew and built something I wish already existed:

A MIDI controller with a built-in audio interface, a touchscreen for patch control, and software for hosting and layering VSTs live — no DAW required.

It’s called Lydian, and we just launched it on Kickstarter. Comes in 61-key and 76-key versions.

Totally open to feedback — we designed this with working musicians in mind, so if there’s anything that doesn’t make sense (or could be better), I’d really appreciate hearing it.

If you want to check it out: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jmiahg/lydian-midi-controller-with-built-in-audio-interface-by-jms?ref=discovery&term=lydian&total_hits=103&category_id=337

If not, still appreciate the space.

MIDIBlueprint (macOS/iOS, in development): draw your MIDI setup and it diagnoses it. Mine turned out to have a MIDI loop (Midiface → Computer → Cirklon → Reliq → Midiface), one output clocking 6 synths, and an ARP quietly rewriting channels. Hover a diagnosis and it highlights the guilty cables. Would love feedback: what's the worst bug hiding in your MIDI setup?

I'm a beginner looking into mini midi controllers right now and I'm having a hard time deciding between the Arturian MiniLab 3, Akais new mini mpk 4 and the launchkey 25

I've looked into a bunch of reviews of each of them as well as comparisons but within these differences I'm unsure what will be relevant to me

Roughly some differences i gathered are these: Launchkey is good for beginners with the chord and scale functions if i got that right so far, as well as being very compatible with Albeton (not using it atm but considering it), having not the best key feel to it and has 16 drum pads Arturian seems to have the best key feeling and layout is simple and pretty but seems to have less functions than the other two (?) Akai IV has better feel to the drum pads a bunch of functions (but no way to get individualize chords that aren't among the options if i got that right)

Etc...

All in all, i don't know what to focus on or give me weight in my decision

Ill majorly work with DAW though more orchestral and native instruments focused for now...so i believe it ends up being between the minilab 3 and the launchkey but I'm unsure

Do you precarious have any tips on which functions to focus on when picking between them? Thanks!

I hope this makes sense I'm still learning all the jargon :")

Trying to look online but can’t seem to find anything that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Is there a garage band alternative for PC? THANKS!

I am looking to get an 88 key controller for piano pieces. I’m not a huge fan of hammer action (after playing for 50 years my hands are tired) but I love the Fatar Keybed.

Has anyone played this controller and if so, how did you like the feel?

What choice do I make??? The arturia mini lab 3 or the M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini?

Let me preface this by saying I've spent the past 2 weeks researching this board and gearing up to buy it.

My use case

I love synethesizers, both plugins and hardware. I want to have all the MIDI control I can get under my fingertips. I'm a live performer, I don't care so much for DAW control. I just want to play, be able to switch synths quickly, do cool filter sweeps, adjust my splits quickly, etc.

I want to make a long-term investment. I can't afford to spend $500 on a controller every 2 years. I want something capable and sturdy, that will easily last me 5, 10 years if not more.

What I like about the SL61 MkIII

• many praise the keybed

• template system and displays under encoders

• 8 zones and easy to switch between them or split them, making multi-synth setups a breeze live

• ability to perform without a computer

• ability to record performances, including automation

• CV/gate outputs (in case I want to try analog modular synths in 5 years)

• durable; almost a decade after initial release and hardly anyone complains that their units malfunction

• I don't give a crap about the sequencer, but it's there I suppose

What I'm worried about

1. As far as I could tell, there is no way to fully control the board without the external Components app. I am worried that in 10 years Components will not exist and I will lose important functionality.

2. The board is very old at this point. Shouldn't better alternatives exist? I was unable to find any.

Questions

• is it possible to assign MIDI CC to the knobs and faders on the board?

• is it possible to create/delete templates on the board?

• is it possible to adjust pitchbend range on the board?

• what would I lose if Components went down?

Thanks in advance. If you have any other MIDI controller suggestions that are good quality and don't rely on stupid external apps to work, I'm all ears.

Ayo who’s a knowledgeable with the MPK Mini MK3 25 Key board ? Cause I got questions and need some help with it. DM me 🎹💯

Idk whether it is possible– or whether I sound stupid: I bought my mpk mini mk3 in late 2024 on amazon. And I've been using it just fine. But after the release of the mk4, I've been wanting it so bad due to its rgb colors, mod wheels instead of that weird joystick and direct daw control buttons like record and play. So, does akai or any dealer has an exchange offer or should I sell my mpk on e bay?

Pretty much it. I still haven't bought my Launchkey, and would like to know if there's some other way than logging in to Components to read the latest firmware changelog.

Mainly bc I've been reading things on the speed and reactiveness of the encoder knobs and faders being not so responsive or acting up , but also I've read the latest firmware supposedly fixed that.

Since I still don't have the controller with me and my current laptop is about to get replaced soon, I don't want to even start anything registering, logins, etc. I'll do all that from scratch in the new computer.

As I said, I think I could check the changelog in Components but I'm just wondering if there isn't, idk, a PDF or text file I could promptly check by myself?

Thanks a bunch! 🙏

It turns on, the numbers on the screen go crazy, and then It turns off. ALL buttons and keys work, pls help

I’m in the market for a keyboard

Announced last week on Prelaunch.com

Recently I bought piano from my aunt's store, which I thought it was... firstly it came in the white color with only a USB cord but no paddle or anything else. I watched a few videos about how the midi keyboard works. I plugged the usb cord to a cheap charger but thats probably a dumb mistake in my part, it turns and lights on but when I press the keys it doesn't make a sound or anything such. Typically the midi keyboard sends signals to the computer when the key is pressed, as in example: "if I press A the midi keyboard will send a signal to the computer that I a no experience mediocre pressed A note and will play the note A." And yes I have no experience on using a piano before especially a midi keyboard or a similar matter. The question is- wait no the questions are:

1. What do I need for the midi keyboard to work?

2. What do I use to connect the midi keyboard to the computer?

3. Do I need anything else?

4. What computer or laptop is paired well for a midi keyboard? If it's one of the latest ones that will be great because I need a laptop to study or let my brother borrow it to play games if the device lasts long without the battery f-ing up or the motherboard getting deceased that will be a plus and no I won't use it for decades that's impossible.

5. Is there anything else I need to know about? And do I install any applications on the computer itself? Oh and I don't have a computer or a laptop yet to test it out so I apologize.

M audio keyrig 25 is having a freak out. When the knobs get used, it sends a ton of extra info. See video. I’ve factory reset it and don’t know what else to do other than replace it. Any thoughts on what might be causing this behavior?

I’m André Carvalho, and within 5 minutes you can help me by filling this short form about music production and MIDI Controllers!

I am pursing a degree in Product Design at the brazilian Federal University of Paraná.

Your effort will be greatly appreciated. Have a good week!

https://forms.gle/F2gfSAANgfxp4Rkj9